Fly-trap.



. F- S LITTLE.

FLY TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. 1916.

Patented May2l, 1918.

1/ ammq 5 UNITED STATEg FATENT @EFTQE.

FRED s. LITTLE, or FAIRFIELD,

IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN SAMUELSON, OF FAIRFIELID, IOWA.

FLY-TRAP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED S. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State ofIowa, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Fly- Traps,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to fly traps, and has for its principal objectthe construction of a trap which is adapted to be removably mounted upona screen in such a manner as to trap the flies either upon the inside oroutside of a screen.

Another object of this invention is the production of a fly trap whereinthe end plates are adapted to carry wire in such a manner as to permitthe trap to be removably mounted upon a screen.

A still further object of this invention is the'production of a fly trapwherein there is formed a hinged section so that after the trap has beenremoved from the screen 1t may beopened for permitting the trapped fliesto be emptied therefrom.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certainnovel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter fully described and claimed. v

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of thefly trap as constructed in accordance with this invention, showing thesame mounted upon a screen.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the-trap and the upperportion of a screen.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the end plates.

"Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a side flange and one of the endplates, showing the manner in which the trap is removably supported upona screen.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals it will be seen thatthe fly trap comprises a pair of end plates as shown in Fig. 1. Each endplate comprises a body 1 having a substantially rounded outer edge2,'with a straight inner edge 3 and straight Patented May 21, 1918.

Application filed. November 6, 1916. Serial No. 129,805.

municating with the slots 7. Thus, it will be seen that the head 8 of ascrew or tack 9 may be passed through the enlarged openings 6 and theflanges 5 and thus the plates may be released so that by their movingdownwardly the screws 9 will pass into the slots 7 while the heads 8will bear upon the outer surface of the flanges 5 thus removablyretaining the end plates in position.

Each body 1 is provided with converging grooves 10 extending inwardlytoward the central portion of the body and extending from the rearstraight edge 3, and, further, With the inwardly converging grooves 11extending toward the inner central portions of the body 1 and extendingfrom the straight bottom edge 4. It will further be seen that the body 1is provided with a channel 12 adjacent the inner straight side edge 3and this channel 12 also communicates with the notch 13.

A sheet of wire mesh 14 is positioned so as to fit within the channel12, having a bent portion 15 resting within the notches 13 of the endplates. The sheet 14 is then bent so as to have the strip 16 fittingwithin one of the grooves 10, as shown in Fig. 2. The wire mesh sheet 17is positioned upon the end plates so as to fit within the lower channels12 for it is, of course, obvious that the'wire sheets 14 and 17 span thedistance between the end plates. This sheet 17 also has a rib 18 fittingwithin the remaining grooves 10 and, therefore, it will be seen thatsince these grooves 10 converge the strips 16 and 18 will converge so asto form an entrance into the interior of the trap. The mesh sheet 17also has a strip 19 fitting within one of the converging grooves 11, asthis strip 19 extends upwardly from the lower portions of the endplates. Another mesh sheet 20 is fixedly mounted in any suitable mannerupon the straight bottom edges 4 of the bodies 1, for instance, as bybeing soldered, or secured in any such manner, and this sheet 20 alsohas an upwardly extending strip 21 fitting within the remainingconverging grooves 11. Thus, it will be seen that sincethese grooves 11also converge the strips 19 and 21 will converge so as to form anentrance opening to the interior of the trap. The leaf 22 is fixedlymounted upon the mesh and also the lower side. edges 4:. ofv the bodies1 adjacent the.

curved outer edges 2 of the bodies. The leaf.

23 is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 24 to the leaf 22 in the usualmanner so as to cause the leaf 23 to be pivotally supported upontheendplates. It'will be seenrthat since the leaf 22 is formed ofsheetmetal it will fixedly retain the end plates in proper spaced relation.The mesh 25 is fixedly mounted upon the. pivotingleaf 2 3, such forinstance as by being soldered thereon, and

' this mesh 25 comprises the pivotally mounted section or movable coverfor the trap. It 7 isv obvious that when the cover or. pivoting sectionis; in a closed position it will fit snugly upon the curved outer edges.2 of the: bodies 1 and will also engage the bentover portion 15 of themesh sheet 14 so as to efiiciently inclose. thev trap for preventing theflies trapped therein from escaping. It;

is further obvious that because of the. fact that the mesh 25 will bearupontheybent over portion 15 the frictional engagement will hold thepivoting section from' accidentallyv opening in view of the fact that,

the cover or pivoted section is extended when in a closed position sofarwto one. side of thehinge it will be substantially ofl' center andaccordingly will normally swing toward a. closed position. and,therefore, will not accidentally open.

The fly trap is adapted to be mounted upon ascreen. frame 26whichcarriesthe bar 27 extending transversely thereacross. The screenwire 28 s, of course, carried by the frame 26 and the bar 27 in theusual manner, although it will be seen that thev bar 271 is carried inspaced relation with respect to the upper portion of the screen frame26. It is, ofcourse, obviousthat this screen frame may beeither a doorscreen or window screen andthat the. space between the bar 27 and thetopv of the screen frame 26 will constitute the space for the entrance.of fliestherethrough. The screws 9, of course, are

position. Itwill be seen that the entrance.

between the strips16 and 18 will be in registryuwith the. space betweenthe bar 27 and the top ofthe screen frame26 so that lie h ch ay ig up nut r, ide.

of the screen may crawl upwardly or may fly through the space betweenthe bar 27 and the top of the screen so as to, alight upon the strips 18and 16. As the fly continues to crawl it is obvious that it will passinto the trap and because of the narrow space at the entranceadjacentvthestraps 16- and- 18 the fly. willbe prevented from passingout wardly therebetween. Flies within the room which may alight upon theinner portions of the screen may fly or' crawl upwardly into engagementwith the strips 19 and 21" and because. of the, fact that these stripsconverge it is obvious that a fly will be directed into the interiorofithe trap andiwil-l 'be pree vented from escaping. Thus, it will be.seen that they trap Will catch the flies-which may.

alight uponeither the outside or insideofi the screen and will preventtheir: escaping.

When it; is. desired to empty the trap Lit; Wlll be seen thatit maybelifted slightly.

upwardlyso as to permit; theheadsi 8.to.ij pass through the openings,- 6'forn ed inthe. 1.

flanges 5. The trap may then, be taken wherever desired and -then thepivotedsem.

tion or cover 25 may be swung outwardly. from the bodies .1, thus,causing the. trap.

tov beopen ed Thetrap may then be emptied and after this action takesplace thepivoted:

section may be again closedso as to permit the trap, to be replapedupon. the; screen frame 7 in condition to. further trap fliesi alightingupon the screen frame andupasse ing thereinto.

From the foregoing description itwill be i seen that a very simple. andefficientflytrap.

.100 has been produced which iS .cOI1StI'l1(;ted .S0;r as to trap fliesupon either the inside. or the.

outside of a frame and which has. its. en-.

trance portionsso formed: as to properly.

direct flies into the trap, althoughpreventing their escape. It isfurtherobviousthat. the formation of the. end plates. will firmly.

hold the wire mesh in its, correct position,

but will also support the pivoted cove'r, also...v I

formed ofscreen wire, so as to holdvthe trap 1n a closed position,although pe i itting the ame to beopened' when it is desirecLtO empty,

the same.

What is claimed is In a device of the class. described, the combinationofa pair of end plates, eachendplate comprising a body having; an

outwardly extending flange. ofthe. same...

length astheheightof thebody, each of said plates provided at the top ofthe inner edge;

and on the inner face with a horizontal;

notch, said plate provided on its inner face with converging slotsextendingainwardly from the inner e dge, and separated attheir;

v face and at it-s lowest edge with; a s cond pair of converg ng. slots,saidslots extend; mg upwardly and separated at their inner;

inner end, saidplate? provided; on; its 1. innerends, mesh sheets in thepair of converging notches of said blocks, and a removable cover slotsand constituting fiy-run-ways, a mesh on the outer edges of said blocks,substanstrip attached to the lower edges of said tially as shown anddescribed.

blocks, an inner mesh strip attached to the In testimony whereof Ihereunto aflix 10 5 inner edges of said blocks and bent at opmysignature.

posite upper ends into said horizontal FRED S. LITTLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

